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SEARCHWe asked top stylists, many of them mentors themselves, to talk about who inspired them.
“ROBERT CROMEANS—he really teaches that it’s up to us how well we do, and to strive to be the best we can not only through education but sharing information—which I think is so important. Also, he teaches us to be proud of our industry and just how limitless our earning potential is. He also reminds us to have fun and love what we do. Who wouldn’t want a career like that?” PATTI WILLIAMSON, Bloom (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada)
“GINA KHAN. She has a no-nonsense, no-ego approach. All stylists must undergo the same training regardless of their experience level. Her staff respects her and she has their best interests at heart.” RACHEL GLENN, Prink Salon (Chicago)
“THE AVEDA CORPORATION. I enjoy their commitment to education, professionalism, quality products and the environment.” JEANETTE STEVENSON, Korea Aveda Salon, Spa and Boutique (Burlington, Ontario, Canada)
“JOHN PAUL DEJORIA. I was so impressed with the way he and Paul Mitchell started their business. I have carried and sold Paul Mitchell products since the ‘80s, not only because we love them, but because they never tested on animals and the company has an ongoing love of the environment. They have given back as much as any other company, and have been leaders in education.” DONNA MILLER, Donna’s Hair Studio and Spa (Ewing, New Jersey)
“MY INDUSTRY MENTOR IS MY FATHER. Although he was never a stylist, he told me when I was a young stylist, ‘If I ever owned my own salon, I would name it after myself.’ When I asked why, he then said, ‘I don’t know much about your business, but if you ever had trouble, I would fight for it.’ This was over 30 years ago, and my dad died 11 months later. I have now owned my salon for 22 years, and it is called Ian Marc’s. My dad’s middle name was Marc, as is mine, and I think about him every day. He never saw my success, but I know that every challenge I have had in business, I have survived it because of him!” IAN MARC SMITH, Ian Marc’s Salon (Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada)
“IF I WERE TO PICK ONE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL I most wished I could be like when I grew up, it would be Michael Gordon. I truly idolize the way he grew his company, his people and his brand. The strength in what he did can still be felt in the Bumble organization—that in itself says something powerful. His collective contributions to the industry, to business, to art, to the creative world, to fashion, to hair care products and to the individual hairdresser are unmatched in my eyes.” JOE SNELL, Ziva Salon-Store (Portland, Oregon)
“WAYNE GRAND has been my mentor for my entire career. He is positive, motivated and full of energy. He truly wants to help our industry become more professional and successful.” Shelley Novakoski, Salon Pure (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada)
“BETH MINARDI. She is an amazing colorist and a wonderfully accomplished businessperson.” JENNIFER RABIDEAU, Halo Salon & Color Lab (Fort Worth, Texas)
“MY FIRST BOSS IN 1973. She was a go-getter and really taught me about hairdressing and business—both the good and the bad. I learned a lot from her. She took me under her wing after I had been very discouraged at my first attempt at being a stylist. She and the other four women I worked with re-taught me everything from doing cuts, color, perms etc. I will never forget her, and I hope that someday I may be able to do the same for someone else.” LYNN HAMMOND, Harbor Hair Design (Kingston, Washington)
“MY FIRST MENTOR WAS EDWIN NEILL II, who introduced the novel idea that as a distributor, he wanted to be a partner for my personal and professional growth. Edwin also sincerely believed in the salon owners, often much more than we believed in ourselves, and this changed many lives, especially mine.” MARILYN IHLOFF, Ihloff Salon and Day Spa (Tulsa, Oklahoma and Kansas City, Kansas)
“FLOYD KENYATTA, BECAUSE HE PAVED THE WAY for African-Americans to be top-flight educators in areas that were not open to us before.” ALONZO PALMER, Alta Moda Salon (Detroit)
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
